Washing machine including a device for changing an orientation of a washing/drying drum

ABSTRACT

A washing machine includes a housing and a washing/drying drum received in the housing. A pivotal mechanism is mounted to each of two flanks of the washing/drying drum. Each pivotal mechanism includes a support having an axle. The axles define a pivotal axis passing through a diameter of the washing/drying drum. Each pivotal mechanism further includes a rotating device rotatable about the pivotal axis defined by the axles. The washing/drying drum is coupled to the rotating devices. The washing/drying drum is pivotable between a horizontal position and a vertical position. One of the pivotal mechanisms includes a positioning mechanism configured to position the washing/drying drum in the horizontal position or the vertical position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a washing machine and, more particularly, to a washing machine including a device for changing an orientation of a washing/drying drum of the washing machine.

A horizontal drum type washing machine includes a washing/drying drum having a horizontal longitudinal axis. An inner drum rotates in the washing/drying drum to continuously toss the clothes up and down, which is similar to manual kneading and striking. Thus, the clothes can be cleaned and is less likely to be damaged. Furthermore, the washing/drying drum is not filled with water to the full amount. In comparison with a vertical drum type washing machine, the horizontal drum type washing machine provides a water saving effect as well as a clothes damage/deformation prevention effect.

However, the clothes usually accumulate in the lower portion of the washing/drying drum during the drying process. If the clothes are heavy or there are many clothes, the clothes in the washing/drying drum cannot evenly distribute on two flanks of the washing/drying drum while the inner drum is rotating at a high speed, providing an uneven centrifugal effect. Thus, the drying effect is not good, the machine wobbles and generates more noise, and the internal elements of the washing machine are more likely to damage. Thus, improvement to the conventional horizontal drum type washing machine is desired.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A washing machine according to the present invention includes a housing and a washing/drying drum received in the housing. A pivotal mechanism is mounted to each of two flanks of the washing/drying drum. Each pivotal mechanism includes a support having an axle. The axles define a pivotal axis passing through a diameter of the washing/drying drum. Each pivotal mechanism further includes a rotating device rotatable about the pivotal axis defined by the axles. The washing/drying drum is coupled to the rotating devices. The washing/drying drum is pivotable between a horizontal position and a vertical position. One of the pivotal mechanisms includes a positioning mechanism configured to position the washing/drying drum in the horizontal position or the vertical position.

In an example, one of the rotating devices includes a first gear mounted to one of the axles and coupled to the washing/drying drum, a motor having a shaft, and a second gear mounted on the shaft and meshed with the first gear. The shaft drives the second gear and the first gear to pivot the washing/drying drum.

The positioning mechanism can include a limit switch mounted on the first gear or the second gear. The positioning mechanism can further include a processor in signal connection with the limit switch and the motor. When the limit switch detects that the washing/drying drum is either in the horizontal position or the vertical position, the limit switch sends a detection signal to the processor, and the processor processes the detection signal and sends a stop command to the motor to stop the motor.

In another example, the support of each pivotal mechanism includes a sidewall facing the washing/drying drum. The sidewall of each support includes an arcuate track. Each of two sides of the washing/drying drum includes a roller received in one of the arcuate tracks. Each roller moves along one of the arcuate slots while the washing/drying drum is pivoting between the horizontal position and the vertical position.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a washing/drying drum of the washing machine according to the present invention, with a housing of the washing machine shown by phantom lines for clarity purposes.

FIG. 2A is a cross sectional view of a circled portion of FIG. 2, illustrating a rotating mechanism of the washing machine.

FIG. 3A is a front view of the washing/drying drum and the rotating mechanism of the washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the washing/drying drum and the rotating mechanism of the washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the washing/drying drum oriented in the vertical direction.

FIG. 5A is a side view illustrating another example of the washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a view similar to FIG. 5A, with the washing/drying drum oriented in the vertical direction.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating connection between a processor, a motor, and a limit switch of the washing machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a washing machine according to the present invention includes a housing 1 and a washing/drying drum 2 received in the housing 1. The housing 1 includes a cover 10 that can be opened to permit a user to place clothes to be washed into the washing/drying drum 2. The cover 10 can be closed to prevent entrance of the head or the hand of the user or alien objects during operation of the washing machine. A sealing cover 20 is mounted to an opening of the washing/drying drum 2 and can be opened to permit the user to place clothes to be washed into the washing/drying drum 2.

A pivotal mechanism 3 is mounted to each of two flanks of the washing/drying drum 2. Each pivotal mechanism 3 includes a support 31. The supports 31 can be fixed in any desired locations of the housing 1. In an example shown in FIG. 2, each support 31 is triangular in cross section and is fixed to a bottom of the housing 1 to provide a better support for the washing/drying drum 2. With reference to FIG. 3, each support 31 includes an axle 311. The axles 311 define a pivotal axis passing through a diameter of the washing/drying drum 2.

Each pivotal mechanism 3 can be of gear type, hydraulic type, or an equivalent structure. In an example of gear type, each pivotal mechanism 3 includes a rotating device 32 rotatable about the pivotal axis defined by the axles 311. The washing/drying drum 2 are coupled to the rotating devices 32. In an example, one of the rotating devices 32 includes a first gear 320 mounted to one of the axles 311 and coupled to the washing/drying drum 2, a motor 33A having a shaft 33, and a second gear 330 mounted on the shaft 33 and meshed with the first gear 320 (see FIG. 2A). The shaft 33 can be driven by the motor 33A to drive the second gear 330 and the first gear 320 to thereby pivot the washing/drying drum 2 about the pivot axis between the horizontal position (FIG. 3B) and the vertical position (FIG. 4).

One of the pivotal mechanisms 3 includes a positioning mechanism. The positioning mechanism is configured to position the washing/drying drum 2 in the horizontal position or the vertical position. In an example, the positioning mechanism includes a limit switch 34 mounted on the first gear 320 or the second gear 330. The positioning mechanism further includes a processor 37 (FIG. 6) in signal connection with the limit switch 34 and the motor 33A. When the limit switch 34 detects that the washing/drying drum 2 is either in the horizontal position or the vertical position (a tooth of the first gear 320 contacts with the limit switch 34), the limit switch 34 sends a detection signal to the processor 37, and the processor 37 processes the detection signal and sends a stop command to the motor 33A to stop the motor 33A. Thus, the washing/drying drum 2 in the horizontal or vertical position is positioned.

In another example shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the support 31 of each pivotal mechanism 3 is square in cross section and includes a sidewall facing the washing/drying drum 2. The sidewall of each support 31 includes an arcuate track 35. Each of two sides of the washing/drying drum 2 includes a roller 36 received in one of the arcuate tracks 35. In this example. the rollers 36 are mounted to two sides of a bottom of the washing/drying drum 2. When the washing/drying drum 2 pivots about the pivot axis, the rollers 36 move along the arcuate tracks 35 to provide a stable pivotal movement for the washing/drying drum 2 while providing additional support for the washing/drying drum 2.

By the above arrangement, the washing/drying drum 2 can be positioned in the horizontal position during the washing stage of the washing machine to provide the effects of saving water and protecting the clothes. During the drying stage, the washing/drying drum 2 is pivoted to the vertical position, such that the clothes in the washing/drying drum 2 can uniformly distribute along the inner walls of the flanks of the washing/drying drum 2, improving the drying effect, reducing wobbling of the washing machine during high speed rotation, and reducing damage to the internal elements of the washing machine. Thus, the washing machine according to the present invention possesses the advantages of both of the horizontal drum type and the vertical drum type.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims. 

1. A washing machine comprising a housing and a washing/drying drum received in the housing, with the washing/drying drum including two flanks, with a pivotal mechanism mounted to each of the two flanks of the washing/drying drum, with each pivotal mechanism including a support having an axle, with the axles defining a pivotal axis passing through a diameter of the washing/drying drum, with each pivotal mechanism further including a rotating device rotatable about the pivotal axis defined by the axles. with the washing/drying drum coupled to the rotating devices, with the washing/drying drum pivotable between a horizontal position and a vertical position, with one of the pivotal mechanisms including a positioning mechanism, and with the positioning mechanism configured to position the washing/drying drum in the horizontal position or the vertical position.
 2. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, with one of the rotating devices including a first gear mounted to one of the axles and coupled to the washing/drying drum, a motor having a shaft, and a second gear mounted on the shaft and meshed with the first gear, and with the shaft driving the second gear and the first gear to pivot the washing/drying drum.
 3. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2, with the positioning mechanism including a limit switch mounted on the first gear or the second gear, with the positioning mechanism further including a processor in signal connection with the limit switch and the motor, wherein when the limit switch detects that the washing/drying drum is either in the horizontal position or the vertical position, the limit switch sends a detection signal to the processor, and the processor processes the detection signal and sends a stop command to the motor to stop the motor.
 4. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, with the support of each pivotal mechanism including a sidewall facing the washing/drying drum, with the sidewall of each support including an arcuate track, with the washing/drying drum including two sides, with each of the two sides of the washing/drying drum including a roller received in one of the arcuate tracks, and with each roller moving along one of the arcuate slots while the washing/drying drum is pivoting between the horizontal position and the vertical position. 